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The Alphabet Killer
The city of Mumbai goes past, cold, impersonal, self-absorbed. A killer waits in the shadows, anticipating his prey.
Mia Santos is a successful author, feminist and Chief Editor of the Mumbai chapter an international feminist magazine. Someone is raping and killing the women she works with, one by one, and carving out the initials A.B onto their foreheads. The media gives him the moniker 'The Alphabet Killer' Mia's getting taunted and tormented by someone who claims to be the killer. She's the only one who knows what the initials mean, and the killer's end game. The same is suspected by CID Inspector Damien De Silva, who's investigating the killings. Even as he tries to work with Mia, he starts getting attached to her. What is that horrible past which Mia's worked so hard to bury? Why is the killer so adamant to unravel this past? Will Mia reciprocate Damien's feelings? Will they be able to work together and find the killer before he executes his horrifying climax?
Mia Santos is a successful author, feminist and Chief Editor of the Mumbai chapter an international feminist magazine. Someone is raping and killing the women she works with, one by one, and carving out the initials A.B onto their foreheads. The media gives him the moniker 'The Alphabet Killer' Mia's getting taunted and tormented by someone who claims to be the killer. She's the only one who knows what the initials mean, and the killer's end game. The same is suspected by CID Inspector Damien De Silva, who's investigating the killings. Even as he tries to work with Mia, he starts getting attached to her. What is that horrible past which Mia's worked so hard to bury? Why is the killer so adamant to unravel this past? Will Mia reciprocate Damien's feelings? Will they be able to work together and find the killer before he executes his horrifying climax?
- GenresThriller
180 pages, Paperback
Published January 29, 2017
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 2, 2017
Prachi Sharma - the young author of The Alphabet Killer - is all set to take over the world - so what if it means a few dead bodies scattered here and there!
The Alphabet Killer is a psychological thriller written quite enjoyably in the first person.
I was nervous about starting it because I am not a fan of blood and gore. After the author let me have a copy in return for a unforced and fair review, I only read a few pages each day (during the day, when the sun was shining bright, and no murderers lurked about with cleavers tucked into their hip pockets).
What I like about it is that the book is not about the murders so much as about the story behind the murders. In that sense, the reader is somewhat shielded from the brutality of the acts committed by the villain(s) - women are killed but the author doesn't dwell with ghoulish relish on the matter. Instead, she rapidly moves the story forward, changes the scene, and gets on with the work at hand - which is to find the person that's done it.
Does he/she get caught - the evil doer of murderous deeds?
Read the book to find out.
The Alphabet Killer is a psychological thriller written quite enjoyably in the first person.
I was nervous about starting it because I am not a fan of blood and gore. After the author let me have a copy in return for a unforced and fair review, I only read a few pages each day (during the day, when the sun was shining bright, and no murderers lurked about with cleavers tucked into their hip pockets).
What I like about it is that the book is not about the murders so much as about the story behind the murders. In that sense, the reader is somewhat shielded from the brutality of the acts committed by the villain(s) - women are killed but the author doesn't dwell with ghoulish relish on the matter. Instead, she rapidly moves the story forward, changes the scene, and gets on with the work at hand - which is to find the person that's done it.
Does he/she get caught - the evil doer of murderous deeds?
Read the book to find out.
February 18, 2020
2.5 stars
Mia Santos is the chief editor of a women empowerment magazine whose female employees, especially those that are close to her are brutally abused and killed by someone who inscribed the alphabets AB on to their foreheads , all the while telephoning her about someone called Antonio Briganza who is linked to her past.
Then emerges a sordid saga as skeletons tumble out of her closet and killing spree continues . Damien is the young smitten policeman who is one of the lead investigators of the case.
I listened to the audio on Storytel . Didn't particularly like the narration , which was flat at many parts , full of pronunciation errors and somewhat accented . Hence 2 stars to what possibly could have been a 3 star book.
Mia Santos is the chief editor of a women empowerment magazine whose female employees, especially those that are close to her are brutally abused and killed by someone who inscribed the alphabets AB on to their foreheads , all the while telephoning her about someone called Antonio Briganza who is linked to her past.
Then emerges a sordid saga as skeletons tumble out of her closet and killing spree continues . Damien is the young smitten policeman who is one of the lead investigators of the case.
I listened to the audio on Storytel . Didn't particularly like the narration , which was flat at many parts , full of pronunciation errors and somewhat accented . Hence 2 stars to what possibly could have been a 3 star book.
May 20, 2017
this one was super-quick; it's a novella, really. The story is about the editor-in-chief of Feminista magazine, Mia Santos, who gets mysterious, anonymous phone calls that threatens to kill all her colleagues one by one. As the count begins with the first murder, Mia Santos comes to realize that all this is related to her personal life which she has left behind long ago, before she migrated from Goa. But thankfully, a young policeman, Damien De Silva, who is the also the love interest of the protagonist, offers a lot of personal and professional help. And they both try to stop the ongoing series of murder by using investigations and tact.
This novel is more about crimes related to women than about a serial killer . So if you're expecting suspense in the lines of 'The ABC murders by Agatha Christie', this is much different. This book has it's own style.
Overall, a decent read. Good language and fast-paced.
This novel is more about crimes related to women than about a serial killer . So if you're expecting suspense in the lines of 'The ABC murders by Agatha Christie', this is much different. This book has it's own style.
Overall, a decent read. Good language and fast-paced.
October 15, 2017
So coming to "The Alphabet Killer" by Prachi Sharma, the most interesting elements are the investigator and the social aspects of the crime. The main investigator is Mia Santos is a strong woman like a bull in a China shop, who has strong views and can go to any extent to uphold her view. She is human with human frailties, passionate about feminism, dedicated to a cause and given to quick anger. Despite being a strong feminist, she does not suffer from monomania and wants to enjoy life as well which probably will make readers relate to her. The opening scene introduces her nicely with a scene where she beats up a bunch of potential rapists. She also has a history about which hints are dropped initially and are unraveled fully towards the end. That is probably the most interesting aspect of the story.
As far as social aspects go, this book focuses on crime against women and the challenges faced by those fighting for feminist causes. It also focuses on social stigma faced by women who are victims of sexual abuse. The author also keeping with the asks of the modern times creates main characters who are not sexually prudish.
Read the rest here. http://luciferhouseinc.blogspot.in/20...
As far as social aspects go, this book focuses on crime against women and the challenges faced by those fighting for feminist causes. It also focuses on social stigma faced by women who are victims of sexual abuse. The author also keeping with the asks of the modern times creates main characters who are not sexually prudish.
Read the rest here. http://luciferhouseinc.blogspot.in/20...
April 14, 2017
‘The Alphabet Killer’ is a refreshing, entertaining, well edited thriller, which will make you take notice of the new talent - Prachi Sharma. The young author starts with a bang with her debut novel.
The uniqueness of the story lies in its fiery, strong feminist Mia Santos, who is well equipped to take on anyone in the world; be it the goons on the street, or the dreaded serial killer, or her cheating ex-boyfriend. After all it is the question of her survival.
The story keeps one engaged with the fast paced narrative and sophisticated flow of words. I must say I was not a big fan of present tense narrative, but by and by I am beginning to enjoy it. Author shows an innate talent in story-telling techniques. The elements of suspense, thrill, fear, romance and mystery has been handled very well throughout the story.
A highly recommended read for lovers of romantic thriller.
The uniqueness of the story lies in its fiery, strong feminist Mia Santos, who is well equipped to take on anyone in the world; be it the goons on the street, or the dreaded serial killer, or her cheating ex-boyfriend. After all it is the question of her survival.
The story keeps one engaged with the fast paced narrative and sophisticated flow of words. I must say I was not a big fan of present tense narrative, but by and by I am beginning to enjoy it. Author shows an innate talent in story-telling techniques. The elements of suspense, thrill, fear, romance and mystery has been handled very well throughout the story.
A highly recommended read for lovers of romantic thriller.
April 17, 2017
Great new mystery writer!
Just finished reading The Alphabet Killer and have to say I loved it!. Sharma's writing is descriptive yet succinct and draws you in from the first sentence to the last. The novel is suspenseful and gripping. The jewel in the crown of the story is Mia Santos, the novel's protagonist. A strong, independent woman who is not cowed by the killer's taunting and brutality. A thoroughly enjoyable read! Looking forward to many more!
Just finished reading The Alphabet Killer and have to say I loved it!. Sharma's writing is descriptive yet succinct and draws you in from the first sentence to the last. The novel is suspenseful and gripping. The jewel in the crown of the story is Mia Santos, the novel's protagonist. A strong, independent woman who is not cowed by the killer's taunting and brutality. A thoroughly enjoyable read! Looking forward to many more!
February 28, 2017
The alphabet killer is just what I wanted. A nail biter thriller, a serial killer lose on the city, a strong female protagonist and interesting narration.
It has all the qualities of a truly captivating book which is what kept me turning the pages. Let's analyse everything :
Characters : Mia us a strong independent female protagonist with a dark past. That is in itself one of my favorite things to read about. Moreover, we need more strong female protagonists in Indian literature. Then there's Damien, the firm cop with an empathic side. To me, Damien's character came off powerful in the beginning but instead of character development, there was character demotion with him. The killer. Now I love reading about serial killers. But for the readers, I won't spoil anything and refrain from talking more.
Plot : This is my favorite part of the book. The plot of strong and intricately woven. From the beginning it was very gripping and I was turning the horses in my head trying ti figure it out but it did not become predictable. Well it did end up being too pretentious in the end. The climax was a bit of a let down. Writing : The writer did well in narrating the book from alternative POV's and the dialogues were well written and powerful. The details kept me hooked and left no loopholes in the story. It complemented the theme of the book nicely.
Overall, it was an intriguing book to read that kept me on the edge of my seat. Apart from the ending, the only other thing that bothered me was the romance as it seemed forced and I wish that wasn't so.
Rating: 3.5 stars
It has all the qualities of a truly captivating book which is what kept me turning the pages. Let's analyse everything :
Characters : Mia us a strong independent female protagonist with a dark past. That is in itself one of my favorite things to read about. Moreover, we need more strong female protagonists in Indian literature. Then there's Damien, the firm cop with an empathic side. To me, Damien's character came off powerful in the beginning but instead of character development, there was character demotion with him. The killer. Now I love reading about serial killers. But for the readers, I won't spoil anything and refrain from talking more.
Plot : This is my favorite part of the book. The plot of strong and intricately woven. From the beginning it was very gripping and I was turning the horses in my head trying ti figure it out but it did not become predictable. Well it did end up being too pretentious in the end. The climax was a bit of a let down. Writing : The writer did well in narrating the book from alternative POV's and the dialogues were well written and powerful. The details kept me hooked and left no loopholes in the story. It complemented the theme of the book nicely.
Overall, it was an intriguing book to read that kept me on the edge of my seat. Apart from the ending, the only other thing that bothered me was the romance as it seemed forced and I wish that wasn't so.
Rating: 3.5 stars
February 15, 2017
First of all, I loved the protagonist Mia Santos. She is a feminist, a bestselling author of a psychological crime series, the Chief Editor of a magazine named The Feminista, and she also owns an organization for women. She is headstrong, takes meaningful decisions, lashes out at sexists and abusers, and she is intelligent, too. In short, she is an inspiring heroine. I wish every author in India pens such strong and independent women characters. What’s more, Mia is also battling the demons of her past, but she copes with it very well.
Then there is the male protagonist Damien De Silva, an intelligent and handsome cop. He is that ideal man every woman would love to have as their soulmate. He is not a hard and rash cop, instead he exhibits emotions and expresses empathy at the right moments. He is also utterly professional when it comes to work. The way he handles the Alphabet Killer case is something to write home about.
The other factors which I loved in the story were the impressive narration and the way Prachi planned the crime sequences. The dialogues were powerful and there were some nail-biting moments which would surely keep the readers guessing ‘what next’. The other characters also shared ample page space and they were also crucial to the plot’s progression.
On the flip side, the romantic part of the story was a bit of a let down. I felt that the love story between Mia and Damien was rushed. Things escalated too soon between them and I didn’t feel a connect to their love story. Prachi could have taken the love story to the sequel (if she had planned on writing one) and concentrated more on the investigation part. That brings me to the investigation process, which I found to be cliched. It could have been a little more interesting to keep the readers hooked to the plot. The climax was also predictable. I could guess what was about to happen and so I couldn’t feel the necessary punch.
Overall, Prachi pens a neatly crafted psychological crime thriller. As a debutante, she succeeds in writing a bestseller, which breaks stereotypes.
Rating: 3.5/5
Then there is the male protagonist Damien De Silva, an intelligent and handsome cop. He is that ideal man every woman would love to have as their soulmate. He is not a hard and rash cop, instead he exhibits emotions and expresses empathy at the right moments. He is also utterly professional when it comes to work. The way he handles the Alphabet Killer case is something to write home about.
The other factors which I loved in the story were the impressive narration and the way Prachi planned the crime sequences. The dialogues were powerful and there were some nail-biting moments which would surely keep the readers guessing ‘what next’. The other characters also shared ample page space and they were also crucial to the plot’s progression.
On the flip side, the romantic part of the story was a bit of a let down. I felt that the love story between Mia and Damien was rushed. Things escalated too soon between them and I didn’t feel a connect to their love story. Prachi could have taken the love story to the sequel (if she had planned on writing one) and concentrated more on the investigation part. That brings me to the investigation process, which I found to be cliched. It could have been a little more interesting to keep the readers hooked to the plot. The climax was also predictable. I could guess what was about to happen and so I couldn’t feel the necessary punch.
Overall, Prachi pens a neatly crafted psychological crime thriller. As a debutante, she succeeds in writing a bestseller, which breaks stereotypes.
Rating: 3.5/5
February 5, 2017
The Alphabet Killer is a very good attempt by the author. The story is a crime thriller. I was on to the book with great expectation and the book had lived up to it. I must say honestly that I was expecting some turn around in the end when the suspense was revealed because if you pay proper attention to the story, you might end up getting the answer well before the story got concluded.
Mia Santos, the protagonist heads The Feminist. She had a break up with her boy friend who owned the company. One fine day, Mia gets a threatening call asking her to confess about her past. When she turns deaf ear, she starts losing her colleagues one by one by way of brutal murders.
Mia seeks the help of her friend Jolene who knew about her past and in the meanwhile Damien De Silva, CID Senior Inspector comes into the picture to investigate the case. At one point, some vital clues were found.
Did it lead to the capture of the murderer? If yes, who was the murderer and what was so secret about Mia's past? Read the book to find out more.
February 6, 2017
The plot construction is the strongest section I came across and it kept me glued till the end. The author has concocted her story around Mia Santos, who happens to be a renowned author, feminist and Chief Editor of an International Feminist Magazine. Life takes a turn when her collegues are murdered. There comes CID Inspector Damien De Silva who investigates the case. This is a story of past which was buried but came into being through mysterious murders. Along with this we get to see a love hate relationship between Mia and Damien De Silva.
Read the Full Review at : https://captivatingmode.wordpress.com...
Read the Full Review at : https://captivatingmode.wordpress.com...
September 7, 2018
The alphabet killer begins with a gripping flow. Mia is shown as a strong-headed woman who knows what she wants in her life. Such strong female leads are very rare. Talking about the narration, Mia’s friendship with her colleagues is wonderfully written. Mia has been portrayed as a strong independent woman who doesn’t let her past come between her and her future. Damien has been shown as an understanding cop.
The level vocabulary used in the book is appropriate. This is the debut novel of the author, and to my delight, she has done a commendable job.
Even though the book started pretty good, things turned messy in between. I felt that the author lost the grip somewhere. The second part of the book looked rushed and the climax was unable to justify the story. The writing style was a bit monotonous. Dialogues were lengthy and confusing at some places. The story lacked details (not the background details but scenic details).
I could feel that the storytelling was not up to the point because of which I was unable to connect with the characters. Instead of telling what the characters were going through, the author could have visually painted it for us, especially when Mia is telling her past to Damien. As a reader, I found it hard to connect with Mia emotionally.
Most of the story is from Mia’s perspective but few chapters are from Damien’s, killer’s, and colleague’s perspectives too. Mia’s perspective is in first-person, and the rest are in third person format. Reading the book with shuffling perspectives could be irritating at times.
Note – Personal Views: The love story between Mia and Damien seems forced and rushed. I felt that the love story part was included just so that Mia could have her ways in the investigation. Damien looked like a puppet in the hands of Mia. The book could have done without a love story. The identity of the killer becomes pretty obvious too. Mia’s behavior at some places was plain rude in the name of feminism. Honestly, feminism doesn’t justify an unacceptable behavior. The story majorly revolved around Mia, which cut the value of the roles of the other characters almost zero.
The level vocabulary used in the book is appropriate. This is the debut novel of the author, and to my delight, she has done a commendable job.
Even though the book started pretty good, things turned messy in between. I felt that the author lost the grip somewhere. The second part of the book looked rushed and the climax was unable to justify the story. The writing style was a bit monotonous. Dialogues were lengthy and confusing at some places. The story lacked details (not the background details but scenic details).
I could feel that the storytelling was not up to the point because of which I was unable to connect with the characters. Instead of telling what the characters were going through, the author could have visually painted it for us, especially when Mia is telling her past to Damien. As a reader, I found it hard to connect with Mia emotionally.
Most of the story is from Mia’s perspective but few chapters are from Damien’s, killer’s, and colleague’s perspectives too. Mia’s perspective is in first-person, and the rest are in third person format. Reading the book with shuffling perspectives could be irritating at times.
Note – Personal Views: The love story between Mia and Damien seems forced and rushed. I felt that the love story part was included just so that Mia could have her ways in the investigation. Damien looked like a puppet in the hands of Mia. The book could have done without a love story. The identity of the killer becomes pretty obvious too. Mia’s behavior at some places was plain rude in the name of feminism. Honestly, feminism doesn’t justify an unacceptable behavior. The story majorly revolved around Mia, which cut the value of the roles of the other characters almost zero.
February 11, 2017
“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
That's how the book "The Alphabet Killer" sums up through a very definitive truth for the readers. Prachi Sharma has done a wonderful job of writing this amazingly well toned book. She has shaped up the characters in her book with great details without being overly idealistic.
Mia, the central protagonist in this novel sparks with sterling qualities and yet Prachi has kept her human and fallible. Prachi draws attention to the dualism of ideal and real in everyone's life. Are we what we are? The pain point of human psyche is that we believe what we do is the truth and ideal but how ideal is it or right is it to the people around us? The Alphabet Killer's characterization leads to interesting aspects in relation to Mia's thought process and decision making.
The law and order, media and its circus, the victims and their loved ones, it takes tact to get each of them playing a role to get the story moving ahead seamlessly.
What I loved about this book:
Having done my Masters in Clinical Psychology I could detect traces of Prachi's attempts to mould the character to a relatable level for the readers. Yes! Psychology of the human mind is quite complex and it becomes a intellectual mumbo-jumbo if the language level isn't taken care of to suit the average readers.
The story is gripping and keeps on moving ahead
It's totally un-put-down-able book and makes an interesting read - I read it at one go!
What needs improvement?
The end. Yeah! Wish there wasn't a happy ending but another killer lurking somewhere! :P
Prachi could have delved more into the making of the killer. The reasons stated for him becoming a killer are strong enough for revenge but not strong enough to turn someone into a psycho killer. Maybe Prachi and I can have a long discussion into that ;-)
However, I would definitely suggest this book as a good read. It has all the elements of a Thriller with a bit of Mystery and also a bit of love in between.
You can buy the book from Amazon and get thrilled to bits with the gripping story!
That's how the book "The Alphabet Killer" sums up through a very definitive truth for the readers. Prachi Sharma has done a wonderful job of writing this amazingly well toned book. She has shaped up the characters in her book with great details without being overly idealistic.
Mia, the central protagonist in this novel sparks with sterling qualities and yet Prachi has kept her human and fallible. Prachi draws attention to the dualism of ideal and real in everyone's life. Are we what we are? The pain point of human psyche is that we believe what we do is the truth and ideal but how ideal is it or right is it to the people around us? The Alphabet Killer's characterization leads to interesting aspects in relation to Mia's thought process and decision making.
The law and order, media and its circus, the victims and their loved ones, it takes tact to get each of them playing a role to get the story moving ahead seamlessly.
What I loved about this book:
Having done my Masters in Clinical Psychology I could detect traces of Prachi's attempts to mould the character to a relatable level for the readers. Yes! Psychology of the human mind is quite complex and it becomes a intellectual mumbo-jumbo if the language level isn't taken care of to suit the average readers.
The story is gripping and keeps on moving ahead
It's totally un-put-down-able book and makes an interesting read - I read it at one go!
What needs improvement?
The end. Yeah! Wish there wasn't a happy ending but another killer lurking somewhere! :P
Prachi could have delved more into the making of the killer. The reasons stated for him becoming a killer are strong enough for revenge but not strong enough to turn someone into a psycho killer. Maybe Prachi and I can have a long discussion into that ;-)
However, I would definitely suggest this book as a good read. It has all the elements of a Thriller with a bit of Mystery and also a bit of love in between.
You can buy the book from Amazon and get thrilled to bits with the gripping story!
February 20, 2017
When Mia Santos, the editor in chief of an international women’s empowerment magazine starts getting threatening calls, she dismisses it as another chauvinist taking a dig but when her close friend and colleague gets raped and murdered, she realizes that the caller means to actually harm her. The dashing Detective Damien De Silva is forwarded the case and he entangles horns with Mia, suspecting that she is hiding something. However, the chemistry eventually clicks and they join hands to put an end to this murderous spree. What is Mia hiding about her past? Will Damien and Mia be able to solve the murder before he hurts any of them? And what do the letter AB mean, etched on the foreheads of the victims?
The book is written with powerful punches and showcases a very strong female figure who is bold, intimidating and headstrong. I think it was the sheer power of her character that made the story even more intriguing. The suspense is a gradual reveal and Prachi Sharma has done a great job of piecing together the puzzle, bit by bit to keep the readers engrossed. The chemistry between Mia and Damien is another plus since he understands her stand and views and it’s apparent from their banter that he treats her as an equal as opposed to just a lover. He admires her guts and determination and it is endearing to see her let her guard down finally.
The story is full of twists and turns and almost feels like a CID episode where I sat back putting together clues from the chapters. Since I’ve read quite a lot of thrillers, I kind of understood where the plot was going and had quite a good clue of who the main perpetrator was. Don’t blame the book, blame the endless binging on CID, Bones and Castle episodes!
All in all, it was worth 4 out of 5 stars for portraying such strong characters, vocabulary and plot!
The book is written with powerful punches and showcases a very strong female figure who is bold, intimidating and headstrong. I think it was the sheer power of her character that made the story even more intriguing. The suspense is a gradual reveal and Prachi Sharma has done a great job of piecing together the puzzle, bit by bit to keep the readers engrossed. The chemistry between Mia and Damien is another plus since he understands her stand and views and it’s apparent from their banter that he treats her as an equal as opposed to just a lover. He admires her guts and determination and it is endearing to see her let her guard down finally.
The story is full of twists and turns and almost feels like a CID episode where I sat back putting together clues from the chapters. Since I’ve read quite a lot of thrillers, I kind of understood where the plot was going and had quite a good clue of who the main perpetrator was. Don’t blame the book, blame the endless binging on CID, Bones and Castle episodes!
All in all, it was worth 4 out of 5 stars for portraying such strong characters, vocabulary and plot!
February 5, 2017
BOOK REVIEW OF - The Alphabet Killer
BY PRACHI SHARMA
• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: HALF BAKED BEANS; First Edition (2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9384315532
• ISBN-13: 978-9384315535
THE PLOT IN BRIEF-
The city of Mumbai goes past, cold, impersonal, self-absorbed. A killer waits in the shadows, anticipating his prey. Mia Santos is a successful author, feminist and Chief Editor of the Mumbai chapter an international feminist magazine. Someone is raping and killing the women she works with, one by one, and carving out the initials A.B onto their foreheads. The media gives him the moniker 'The Alphabet Killer' Mia's getting taunted and tormented by someone who claims to be the killer. She's the only one who knows what the initials mean, and the killer's end game. The same is suspected by CID Inspector Damien De Silva, who's investigating the killings. Even as he tries to work with Mia, he starts getting attached to her. What is that horrible past which Mia's worked so hard to bury? Why is the killer so adamant to unravel this past? Will Mia reciprocate Damien's feelings? Will they be able to work together and find the killer before he executes his horrifying climax?
THE TITLE-
The title is very much appropriate and relevant to the plot. Not only because the murderer’s initial is AB but the word has alphabet made the title more interesting and thrilling. The word alphabet has a metaphorical meaning behind its real one. A series of crime continues one after another and alphabet is the perfect word to describe the projection of this scene. This is how space begins, with words only, signs traced on the blank page. To describe space: to name it, to trace it, like those portolano-makers who saturated the coastlines with the names of harbours, the names of capes, the names of inlets, until in the end the land was only separated from the sea by a continuous ribbon of text. Is the aleph that places in Borges from which the entire world is visible simultaneously, anything other than an alphabet?
REVIEW OF THE BOOK-
Though the book looks like a crime thriller from a distant view, it has a tinge of violence along with women empowerment in it. The amalgamation of murder and past along with break up makes the theme more intense and interesting. Each letter of the alphabet is a steadfast loyal soldier in a great army of words, sentences, paragraphs, and stories. One letter falls, and the entire language falters. Sexual abuse also plays the vital plot in the story and we see that Mia Santos, a female character acts as a protagonist.
“Dialogues must appear as natural as if coming from effortless writing. It must not sweat. Your beloved readers must not sweat. But here am I, literally sweating, because my characters are literally talking dirty in a steamy sweaty and bloody scene.” Believe me, the conversation and the dialogues portrayed in the story gave me a spine chilling experience.
The characterization is very well and perfectly demonstrated. Each and every one played their part very well especially in the climax scenes.
The plot gives us a strong feeling about sexual abuses and harassments which women faces. It is not a single crime when a child is photographed while sexually assaulted (raped.) It is a life time crime that should have life time punishments attached to it. If the surviving child is, more often than not, going to suffer for life for the crime(s) committed against them, shouldn't the paedophiles suffer just as long? If it often takes decades for survivors to come to terms with exactly how much damage was caused to them, why are there time limits for prosecution?
Read this wonderful mind blowing thriller by Ms.Sharma which brings out a beautiful message apart from the main thrilling mystery at
http://www.amazon.in/Alphabet-Killer-...
But why does it matter what we call it, as long as there is concerted action to respond to and prevent such crimes? It matters because if we really want to fix something that is broken, if we want to heal these fractures in our society, then we need to understand their causes. If we do not, then we will forever continue to place giant sticking plasters over the wounds left by this violence, trying to bandage over losses that can never be replaced. As long as this violence continues, it is obviously the case that we do have to address the symptoms, but my argument is that we must also address the causes if we want a long-term reduction or even, perhaps, the eventual eradication of male violence against women
Self respect by definition is a confidence and pride in knowing that your behaviour is both honourable and dignified. When you harass or vilify someone, you not only disrespect them, but yourself also.
Street harassment, sexual violence, sexual harassment, gender-based violence and racism, are all acts committed by a person who in fact has no self respect.
-Respect yourself by respecting others.
YOU SHOULD READ THIS BECAUSE-
1. THE MULTI-PLOTTED STORY
2. THE ALPHABET FACTOR
3. THE CHARECTERIZATION OF MIA AND DAMIEN ALONG WITH THE ‘ALPHABET KILLER’.
Drawbacks (believe me, the negative points are negligible if you compare to the positive aspects)
• The climax could have been a bit better.
Takeaways:
• The beautiful cover and the blurb.
• The women empowerment and the upholding of the women rights brought about by the story.
RATINGS-
Overall I would like to rate the book 42 on a scale of 50.
4 stars out of 5
1. Originality of the plot and sub plots- 9/10
2. Net emotions in the story- 8/10
3. Usage of words and phrases-8/10
4. The title, cover and the illustration-8/10
5. The net impact on the readers- 9/10
Overall, it’s worth reading.
After all...
This journey will definitely make you thrillJ
KUDOS TO PRACHI SHARMA- It was really a beautiful plot.
Reviewed by-
Sayan Basak
Kolkata
BY PRACHI SHARMA
• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: HALF BAKED BEANS; First Edition (2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9384315532
• ISBN-13: 978-9384315535
THE PLOT IN BRIEF-
The city of Mumbai goes past, cold, impersonal, self-absorbed. A killer waits in the shadows, anticipating his prey. Mia Santos is a successful author, feminist and Chief Editor of the Mumbai chapter an international feminist magazine. Someone is raping and killing the women she works with, one by one, and carving out the initials A.B onto their foreheads. The media gives him the moniker 'The Alphabet Killer' Mia's getting taunted and tormented by someone who claims to be the killer. She's the only one who knows what the initials mean, and the killer's end game. The same is suspected by CID Inspector Damien De Silva, who's investigating the killings. Even as he tries to work with Mia, he starts getting attached to her. What is that horrible past which Mia's worked so hard to bury? Why is the killer so adamant to unravel this past? Will Mia reciprocate Damien's feelings? Will they be able to work together and find the killer before he executes his horrifying climax?
THE TITLE-
The title is very much appropriate and relevant to the plot. Not only because the murderer’s initial is AB but the word has alphabet made the title more interesting and thrilling. The word alphabet has a metaphorical meaning behind its real one. A series of crime continues one after another and alphabet is the perfect word to describe the projection of this scene. This is how space begins, with words only, signs traced on the blank page. To describe space: to name it, to trace it, like those portolano-makers who saturated the coastlines with the names of harbours, the names of capes, the names of inlets, until in the end the land was only separated from the sea by a continuous ribbon of text. Is the aleph that places in Borges from which the entire world is visible simultaneously, anything other than an alphabet?
REVIEW OF THE BOOK-
Though the book looks like a crime thriller from a distant view, it has a tinge of violence along with women empowerment in it. The amalgamation of murder and past along with break up makes the theme more intense and interesting. Each letter of the alphabet is a steadfast loyal soldier in a great army of words, sentences, paragraphs, and stories. One letter falls, and the entire language falters. Sexual abuse also plays the vital plot in the story and we see that Mia Santos, a female character acts as a protagonist.
“Dialogues must appear as natural as if coming from effortless writing. It must not sweat. Your beloved readers must not sweat. But here am I, literally sweating, because my characters are literally talking dirty in a steamy sweaty and bloody scene.” Believe me, the conversation and the dialogues portrayed in the story gave me a spine chilling experience.
The characterization is very well and perfectly demonstrated. Each and every one played their part very well especially in the climax scenes.
The plot gives us a strong feeling about sexual abuses and harassments which women faces. It is not a single crime when a child is photographed while sexually assaulted (raped.) It is a life time crime that should have life time punishments attached to it. If the surviving child is, more often than not, going to suffer for life for the crime(s) committed against them, shouldn't the paedophiles suffer just as long? If it often takes decades for survivors to come to terms with exactly how much damage was caused to them, why are there time limits for prosecution?
Read this wonderful mind blowing thriller by Ms.Sharma which brings out a beautiful message apart from the main thrilling mystery at
http://www.amazon.in/Alphabet-Killer-...
But why does it matter what we call it, as long as there is concerted action to respond to and prevent such crimes? It matters because if we really want to fix something that is broken, if we want to heal these fractures in our society, then we need to understand their causes. If we do not, then we will forever continue to place giant sticking plasters over the wounds left by this violence, trying to bandage over losses that can never be replaced. As long as this violence continues, it is obviously the case that we do have to address the symptoms, but my argument is that we must also address the causes if we want a long-term reduction or even, perhaps, the eventual eradication of male violence against women
Self respect by definition is a confidence and pride in knowing that your behaviour is both honourable and dignified. When you harass or vilify someone, you not only disrespect them, but yourself also.
Street harassment, sexual violence, sexual harassment, gender-based violence and racism, are all acts committed by a person who in fact has no self respect.
-Respect yourself by respecting others.
YOU SHOULD READ THIS BECAUSE-
1. THE MULTI-PLOTTED STORY
2. THE ALPHABET FACTOR
3. THE CHARECTERIZATION OF MIA AND DAMIEN ALONG WITH THE ‘ALPHABET KILLER’.
Drawbacks (believe me, the negative points are negligible if you compare to the positive aspects)
• The climax could have been a bit better.
Takeaways:
• The beautiful cover and the blurb.
• The women empowerment and the upholding of the women rights brought about by the story.
RATINGS-
Overall I would like to rate the book 42 on a scale of 50.
4 stars out of 5
1. Originality of the plot and sub plots- 9/10
2. Net emotions in the story- 8/10
3. Usage of words and phrases-8/10
4. The title, cover and the illustration-8/10
5. The net impact on the readers- 9/10
Overall, it’s worth reading.
After all...
This journey will definitely make you thrillJ
KUDOS TO PRACHI SHARMA- It was really a beautiful plot.
Reviewed by-
Sayan Basak
Kolkata
March 22, 2017
If you're a bookworm like me, and read a variety of genres, you often read different kinds of books based on your mood, other events in your life, and what you read directly before. After reading a particularly intense Nigerian novel (The Fisherman) full of sadness and despair, The Alphabet Killer was a welcome respite.
A series of rapes and murders are occurring in Mumbai - all of them close friends and colleagues of Mia Santos, renowned feminist, and editor of an international feminist magazine. Mia is subjected to a series of terrifying phone calls in which the killer taunts her and brings up a deep dark secret from her past. On top of this, she has just had her heart-broken by her high profile ex-boyfriend. In spite of her broken sense of trust, she finds herself growing closer to CID inspector Damien De Silva, and helps him investigate the case.
The Alphabet Killer is a fun, short, quick read if you're a mystery/crime fiction junkie like me. Though it is not a highly elaborate plot and there are only a few characters that are developed more fully, it is put together quite well. There are some minor edits that could have made the writing a bit sharper and more active vs. passive (the editor in my brain never quits!), but I do not think this hampers the reading experience all that much. Prachi Sharma is a young writer, and I sense she will continue to evolve as she tackles more and more projects.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the read, and would recommend it for the mystery/crime lovers out there.
A series of rapes and murders are occurring in Mumbai - all of them close friends and colleagues of Mia Santos, renowned feminist, and editor of an international feminist magazine. Mia is subjected to a series of terrifying phone calls in which the killer taunts her and brings up a deep dark secret from her past. On top of this, she has just had her heart-broken by her high profile ex-boyfriend. In spite of her broken sense of trust, she finds herself growing closer to CID inspector Damien De Silva, and helps him investigate the case.
The Alphabet Killer is a fun, short, quick read if you're a mystery/crime fiction junkie like me. Though it is not a highly elaborate plot and there are only a few characters that are developed more fully, it is put together quite well. There are some minor edits that could have made the writing a bit sharper and more active vs. passive (the editor in my brain never quits!), but I do not think this hampers the reading experience all that much. Prachi Sharma is a young writer, and I sense she will continue to evolve as she tackles more and more projects.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the read, and would recommend it for the mystery/crime lovers out there.
May 25, 2018
Mia Santos is a fiercely independent woman who has helped numerous women from the clutches of abusive marriages, sex traffickers and sexual offenders. She is respected and equally feared for her strong opinions and actions. Some one out there, howvever, is not pleased with Mia. And he finds a gruesome way to express his displeasure. He starts raping and killing women close to Mia. The police are perplexed by the killer's methods and his obsession with the letter A.B. As the alphabet killer dares cops to nab him, Mia is shattered and baffled.
The book is a page-turner, just like a murder mystery should be. The characters are well defined and justify their importance in the story. There are enough twists to keep the reader intrigued. The writing is superb and lets you glide through the story. The climax where the connection between Mia and the killer is revealed is also interesting. In all, an interesting read if you like murder mysteries.
The book is a page-turner, just like a murder mystery should be. The characters are well defined and justify their importance in the story. There are enough twists to keep the reader intrigued. The writing is superb and lets you glide through the story. The climax where the connection between Mia and the killer is revealed is also interesting. In all, an interesting read if you like murder mysteries.
February 28, 2017
Book name: The Alphabet Killer
Author: Prachi Sharma
Published by: Half Baked Beans
Pages: 164
Genre: Fiction, Crime Thriller
MRP: ₹199
--
Blurb:
The city of Mumbai goes past, cold, impersonal, self-absorbed.
A killer waits in the shadows, anticipating his prey.
Mia Santos is a successful author, feminist and chief editor of the Mumbai Chapter of an International Feminist Magazine.
Someone is raping and killing the women she works with, one by one, and carving out the initials 'A.B.' onto their foreheads.
The media gives him the moniker "The Alphabet Killer".
Mia's getting taunted and tormented by someone who claims to be the killer. She's the only one who knows what the initial mean, and the killer's end game.
The same is suspected by CID Inspector Damien De Silva, who's investigating the killings. Even as he tries to work with Mia, he starts getting attached to her.
What is that horrible past which Mia's worked so hard to bury? Why is the killer so adamant to unravel this past?
Will Mia reciprocate Damien's feelings? Will they be able to work together and find the killer before he executes his horrifying climax?
--
Review:
The Alphabet Killer is a crime fiction thriller with elements of murder mystery, written by Prachi Sharma, and published by Half Baked Beans.
In a nutshell, The Alphabet Killer is really good. It has all the things you look for in a crime thriller: a fierce lead character, a police officer who actually knows his job and doesn't let personal agendas cloud his senses, and a menacing antagonist.
Strengths:
1. The execution of the plot. The plot is simple: there's a killer on the loose, killing women who have been known to be working for the lead, Mia Santos' feminist magazine; so it's clear the killings are for revenge. But the way Prachi Sharma has written it is remarkable.
2. Fiction is incomplete without, background stories with grey shades for either all of its characters or at least the leads or the supporting characters. Here, Mia Santos' past is so upsetting that you will want her to nab the killer so bad.
3. And, the characters have been well-built. None of them felt flat, which is a huge plus.
Weaknesses:
1. Errors, typos, typesetting faults. I had actually made a list of all the speedbumps I found while reading the book, but then decided to not include it in this review.
2. The Alphabet Killer is a crime fiction thriller, with only a few elements of a murder mystery, and yet, when the identity of the killer is revealed, it feels...
...not-so-revealing?
Anyway, overall, the strengths outweigh the weaknesses.
--
Rating:
Cover is okay - 3/5
Blurb sets the mood that may make the reader want to buy a copy - 3.5/5
Story is simple - 3/5
Presentation is where it stands out - 3.7/5
Overall, it's a 3.5/5 from me.
--
Final Verdict:
Go for it!
Author: Prachi Sharma
Published by: Half Baked Beans
Pages: 164
Genre: Fiction, Crime Thriller
MRP: ₹199
--
Blurb:
The city of Mumbai goes past, cold, impersonal, self-absorbed.
A killer waits in the shadows, anticipating his prey.
Mia Santos is a successful author, feminist and chief editor of the Mumbai Chapter of an International Feminist Magazine.
Someone is raping and killing the women she works with, one by one, and carving out the initials 'A.B.' onto their foreheads.
The media gives him the moniker "The Alphabet Killer".
Mia's getting taunted and tormented by someone who claims to be the killer. She's the only one who knows what the initial mean, and the killer's end game.
The same is suspected by CID Inspector Damien De Silva, who's investigating the killings. Even as he tries to work with Mia, he starts getting attached to her.
What is that horrible past which Mia's worked so hard to bury? Why is the killer so adamant to unravel this past?
Will Mia reciprocate Damien's feelings? Will they be able to work together and find the killer before he executes his horrifying climax?
--
Review:
The Alphabet Killer is a crime fiction thriller with elements of murder mystery, written by Prachi Sharma, and published by Half Baked Beans.
In a nutshell, The Alphabet Killer is really good. It has all the things you look for in a crime thriller: a fierce lead character, a police officer who actually knows his job and doesn't let personal agendas cloud his senses, and a menacing antagonist.
Strengths:
1. The execution of the plot. The plot is simple: there's a killer on the loose, killing women who have been known to be working for the lead, Mia Santos' feminist magazine; so it's clear the killings are for revenge. But the way Prachi Sharma has written it is remarkable.
2. Fiction is incomplete without, background stories with grey shades for either all of its characters or at least the leads or the supporting characters. Here, Mia Santos' past is so upsetting that you will want her to nab the killer so bad.
3. And, the characters have been well-built. None of them felt flat, which is a huge plus.
Weaknesses:
1. Errors, typos, typesetting faults. I had actually made a list of all the speedbumps I found while reading the book, but then decided to not include it in this review.
2. The Alphabet Killer is a crime fiction thriller, with only a few elements of a murder mystery, and yet, when the identity of the killer is revealed, it feels...
...not-so-revealing?
Anyway, overall, the strengths outweigh the weaknesses.
--
Rating:
Cover is okay - 3/5
Blurb sets the mood that may make the reader want to buy a copy - 3.5/5
Story is simple - 3/5
Presentation is where it stands out - 3.7/5
Overall, it's a 3.5/5 from me.
--
Final Verdict:
Go for it!
February 20, 2017
Story: 4.3/5
Yes, I definitely can promise you that the story is a gem created by the author. It has adequate twists and engages the reader throughout. Interesting fact: I completed the book in a mere four hours as I sat through 12 AM to 4 AM, never once leaving the book. Maybe once. Who can refuse a restroom break? :P Ok, ok, too much information, I know.
The story deals with a sassy female protagonist, obviously a feminist (no surprise there since the author herself is one and constantly puts statuses on her FB profile about how women empowerment should be an issue that should be seriously raised and something done about it. Cannot refuse there), named Mia Santos. Now she is a hardass protagonist and her exposition is done well. She is introduced with her saving a poor girl from the clutches of four men. One even gets a kick on his crotch. Ouch! That must have hurt.
Like good fiction, the protagonist has a dark past of which not many know about, not even her closest friends in Mumbai. She prefers to bury it close to her bosom (who wouldn't?). She is also pissed with her ex-boyfriend (sorry for the lewd language but it is warranted considering the ex cheated on her). She runs an international feminist magazine named The Feminista where she covers issues related to women, etc.
And lo! someone knows about her dark past and starts killing women known to her after brutally raping them. Perverted psychopath, phew! He marks his victims with the letters A.B, whose significance is revealed as the story progresses. The media gives him the name 'The Alphabet Killer', just like the title of this book says. And hey, Mia Santos is also an author herself. A fictional author, you guys!!!
Then there is Damien D'Silva, who is this cop. Now here I feel the author has lacked. He hasn't been exposed well. He bears a lot of similarities to the detectives, those hot cops who come in the TV Shows. The way he talks sometimes feels unreal. I haven't heard Mumbai cops speak like that. But no matter this, the cop will definitely make you fall in love with him, just....oops, spoiler alert!!!
The plot is about Mia's journey as her past unravels and she finally confronts the killer.
Writing: 3/5
Writing-wise, I expected the author to be much better. Even though she writes in a simple, relatable English, her writing is not quite up to the mark. There are a lot of cases where the show versus tell problems arise (this is probably why I should write a blog about it, maybe my next one???). The writing is in first person present tense. Here, I feel the author should have worked real hard and shown the settings and narrated emotions, make us feel for the character. There is a scene where Mia spills about her dark past and I wish Mia's state of mind could have been shown rather than told. Also, some of the dialogues seemed unreal and made up, sometimes forced, but otherwise okay.
The author writes well, I know. I have read some of her excerpts from her other works. But somehow I felt that the writing in this book does not match even her standards. Constant scene shifts without breaks make for head-jumping, which is a frowning matter in the world of critiques.
Also, sometimes, I encountered longish sentences with too many commas, which make for a breaking and annoying read. That's the truth about the matter.
However, this will not hamper the reader from learning more about the characters and enjoying the story. Read this book for the story, for Mia Santos.
My Verdict:
Definitely give this book a read. I am sure you guys will love this good crime thriller.
Yes, I definitely can promise you that the story is a gem created by the author. It has adequate twists and engages the reader throughout. Interesting fact: I completed the book in a mere four hours as I sat through 12 AM to 4 AM, never once leaving the book. Maybe once. Who can refuse a restroom break? :P Ok, ok, too much information, I know.
The story deals with a sassy female protagonist, obviously a feminist (no surprise there since the author herself is one and constantly puts statuses on her FB profile about how women empowerment should be an issue that should be seriously raised and something done about it. Cannot refuse there), named Mia Santos. Now she is a hardass protagonist and her exposition is done well. She is introduced with her saving a poor girl from the clutches of four men. One even gets a kick on his crotch. Ouch! That must have hurt.
Like good fiction, the protagonist has a dark past of which not many know about, not even her closest friends in Mumbai. She prefers to bury it close to her bosom (who wouldn't?). She is also pissed with her ex-boyfriend (sorry for the lewd language but it is warranted considering the ex cheated on her). She runs an international feminist magazine named The Feminista where she covers issues related to women, etc.
And lo! someone knows about her dark past and starts killing women known to her after brutally raping them. Perverted psychopath, phew! He marks his victims with the letters A.B, whose significance is revealed as the story progresses. The media gives him the name 'The Alphabet Killer', just like the title of this book says. And hey, Mia Santos is also an author herself. A fictional author, you guys!!!
Then there is Damien D'Silva, who is this cop. Now here I feel the author has lacked. He hasn't been exposed well. He bears a lot of similarities to the detectives, those hot cops who come in the TV Shows. The way he talks sometimes feels unreal. I haven't heard Mumbai cops speak like that. But no matter this, the cop will definitely make you fall in love with him, just....oops, spoiler alert!!!
The plot is about Mia's journey as her past unravels and she finally confronts the killer.
Writing: 3/5
Writing-wise, I expected the author to be much better. Even though she writes in a simple, relatable English, her writing is not quite up to the mark. There are a lot of cases where the show versus tell problems arise (this is probably why I should write a blog about it, maybe my next one???). The writing is in first person present tense. Here, I feel the author should have worked real hard and shown the settings and narrated emotions, make us feel for the character. There is a scene where Mia spills about her dark past and I wish Mia's state of mind could have been shown rather than told. Also, some of the dialogues seemed unreal and made up, sometimes forced, but otherwise okay.
The author writes well, I know. I have read some of her excerpts from her other works. But somehow I felt that the writing in this book does not match even her standards. Constant scene shifts without breaks make for head-jumping, which is a frowning matter in the world of critiques.
Also, sometimes, I encountered longish sentences with too many commas, which make for a breaking and annoying read. That's the truth about the matter.
However, this will not hamper the reader from learning more about the characters and enjoying the story. Read this book for the story, for Mia Santos.
My Verdict:
Definitely give this book a read. I am sure you guys will love this good crime thriller.
October 9, 2019
Loved the writing style. The characters were well developed throughout. The only thing that I found weak was the climax. Other than that, it is a fabulous read.
March 8, 2017
In the busy streets of Mumbai you see a girl being molested people are watching and then enters hero bangs the molester up and down and game is over!!
Well here our hero is Mia Santos ,a girl right!!
A successful author,feminist and chief editor of the Mumbai chapter an international feminist magazine
Bold and independent Mia living her life with a grief from recent betrayal of her ex-boyfriend the so-called boss of the international magazine.
The story unfolds when Mia was just reconciling when her past comes to haunt her down and ask her to pay for her guiltless sins
A murderer psychopath roaming free and laid back ripping off throats and living them strayed on the streets of Mumbai.
will they able to solve and find the mysterious alphabetic killer??
Things I liked:
Plot
Showing women as a protagonist
Writing style
Things which I feel lacked:
The story line in the beginning was very catchy but the later half the killer becomes very presumptuous I wished it could have being a more suspense
The romance factor being such small part felt forcefully added
The impact of the plot in story was not so strong
Note:As the authors first work it was done in very appealing way .I wish to see more of it in future
Well here our hero is Mia Santos ,a girl right!!
A successful author,feminist and chief editor of the Mumbai chapter an international feminist magazine
Bold and independent Mia living her life with a grief from recent betrayal of her ex-boyfriend the so-called boss of the international magazine.
The story unfolds when Mia was just reconciling when her past comes to haunt her down and ask her to pay for her guiltless sins
A murderer psychopath roaming free and laid back ripping off throats and living them strayed on the streets of Mumbai.
will they able to solve and find the mysterious alphabetic killer??
Things I liked:
Plot
Showing women as a protagonist
Writing style
Things which I feel lacked:
The story line in the beginning was very catchy but the later half the killer becomes very presumptuous I wished it could have being a more suspense
The romance factor being such small part felt forcefully added
The impact of the plot in story was not so strong
Note:As the authors first work it was done in very appealing way .I wish to see more of it in future
February 20, 2017
“The Alphabet Killer” is author Prachi Sharma’s debut novel.
When I searched Amazon for this title, I found many books by the same name. Ideally, one should try to christen a new book with a unique title.
The cover design of the book has a cool retro look. The backdrop is pink which is incidentally the ‘colour of the hour’. Moreover, the protagonist of the book is a die-hard feminist, working for ‘Feminista’ magazine.
The plot of the book, as the blurb indicates involves three main characters- the heroine (Mia Santos), the cop (Damien) and a serial killer. The narrative is fast paced and the writing style lucid. I read this book in a single sitting. The premise, though not new, is nevertheless promising. Murders, violence and gore are a potent cocktail. A cat and mouse game between the perpetrator of a crime and the law enforcers makes for an interesting read. The same applies to this book. The first 150 odd pages of this book keep you glued to your seat.
The author, however, loses a grip on the proceedings towards the climax. A story, high on adrenaline, fizzles out in the end. Another 30 pages, a better etched ‘hero’, a more complex antagonist and a riveting climax could have taken this book to another level.
When I searched Amazon for this title, I found many books by the same name. Ideally, one should try to christen a new book with a unique title.
The cover design of the book has a cool retro look. The backdrop is pink which is incidentally the ‘colour of the hour’. Moreover, the protagonist of the book is a die-hard feminist, working for ‘Feminista’ magazine.
The plot of the book, as the blurb indicates involves three main characters- the heroine (Mia Santos), the cop (Damien) and a serial killer. The narrative is fast paced and the writing style lucid. I read this book in a single sitting. The premise, though not new, is nevertheless promising. Murders, violence and gore are a potent cocktail. A cat and mouse game between the perpetrator of a crime and the law enforcers makes for an interesting read. The same applies to this book. The first 150 odd pages of this book keep you glued to your seat.
The author, however, loses a grip on the proceedings towards the climax. A story, high on adrenaline, fizzles out in the end. Another 30 pages, a better etched ‘hero’, a more complex antagonist and a riveting climax could have taken this book to another level.
February 12, 2017
I grew up reading thrillers and honestly, this book did live up to my expectations!
The book revolves around the life of Mia Santos, the protagonist who heads the magazine 'The Feminist' owned by her boyfriend.
Mia finds herself helpless as she discovers her boyfriend cheating on her. The Author has beautifully described various emotions, breakup as Mia mends the broken pieces of her heart.
Things get confusing breakup is followed by threatening calls from someone who vouches to be aware of some secret of her past.
One after the other the prominent female workers of the 'Feminist' are found dead by the killer with A.B engraved on the forehead.
Mia is reluctant to reveal her past to anyone yet finds herself getting close with the Senior Inspector of CID.
The story also touches issues of sexual abuse and makes one ponder on the ugly reality of the society we live in.I enjoyed the character of Mia, the strength and the confidence she was filled with. Other characters of the story were well narrated.
The suspense factor was overall good although I felt the character of the killer had some more potential to be exploited to add to the thrill.
Although I expected some twist towards the end, lack of it was compensated by the dramatic set up!
Messy break up, threatening calls followed by recurring murders of women who contributed in building 'The Feminist'and vital clues pointing to dark past of Mia, Will Mia be successful in sailing through it all?
Is she innocent or hiding a guilt from the past?
To know more grab a copy!
Keep writing Ms. Sharma, we need more from you!
The book revolves around the life of Mia Santos, the protagonist who heads the magazine 'The Feminist' owned by her boyfriend.
Mia finds herself helpless as she discovers her boyfriend cheating on her. The Author has beautifully described various emotions, breakup as Mia mends the broken pieces of her heart.
Things get confusing breakup is followed by threatening calls from someone who vouches to be aware of some secret of her past.
One after the other the prominent female workers of the 'Feminist' are found dead by the killer with A.B engraved on the forehead.
Mia is reluctant to reveal her past to anyone yet finds herself getting close with the Senior Inspector of CID.
The story also touches issues of sexual abuse and makes one ponder on the ugly reality of the society we live in.I enjoyed the character of Mia, the strength and the confidence she was filled with. Other characters of the story were well narrated.
The suspense factor was overall good although I felt the character of the killer had some more potential to be exploited to add to the thrill.
Although I expected some twist towards the end, lack of it was compensated by the dramatic set up!
Messy break up, threatening calls followed by recurring murders of women who contributed in building 'The Feminist'and vital clues pointing to dark past of Mia, Will Mia be successful in sailing through it all?
Is she innocent or hiding a guilt from the past?
To know more grab a copy!
Keep writing Ms. Sharma, we need more from you!
February 6, 2017
The Plot - Summary
A cold blooded murder is on the loose in the busy streets of Mumbai haunting and preying on young woman. All his victims have one thing in common, they work for Mia Santos, the head strong feminist who is the editor of a successful magazine. Mia has a past, a very gruesome past which returns to haunt her in the form of these murders. But, who is the killer? How does he know her well guarded secret? In comes investigating office Damien. Will he crack the crime and catch the killer?
The Cover
It's simple and well illustrated, but the choice of color is a bit of cliche given that the protagonist is a feminist.
Characters
It is evident that Mia's character has been crafted with utmost care to ensure that she is hardened due to her past yet has a soft humane side. Damien's character however seemed to be a hit hazy and inconsistent. He started out being a proper cop and ended up becoming an almost puppet which didn't help the plot line as such. The killer's character was perfectly justified with proper motives, but all of it felt superficial. The negative character in Mia's past seemed more convincing than that of in the present. Other supporting characters were also crafted with perfection such that they fit into the story in a very ideal manner.
What Worked!
The book started off really well. The writer carried out alternate point of view narration in a perfect manner alternating between that of Mia's and the killers. The suspense element was kept alive till about mid way of the book. There we no logical loopholes or inconsistencies in the plot. The editing was air tight till about three fourth of the book. The story started out to be a thriller lover's delight totally.
What could have been better
The climax could have been twisted a bit. It was way too straightforward and predictable. I felt the editing and plot as such slacked a lot after such a good beginning. May be the first half of the book raised the bar and set my expectations high that the climax paled out in comparison. Damien's relationship with Mia though seemed realistic, it kind of ended up altering Damien's character as such. He didn't seem like a tough cop at all. That part of the story could have done with more tough emotions!
Recommendation - For thriller lovers. Brownie points for originality of plot and clean writing!
A cold blooded murder is on the loose in the busy streets of Mumbai haunting and preying on young woman. All his victims have one thing in common, they work for Mia Santos, the head strong feminist who is the editor of a successful magazine. Mia has a past, a very gruesome past which returns to haunt her in the form of these murders. But, who is the killer? How does he know her well guarded secret? In comes investigating office Damien. Will he crack the crime and catch the killer?
The Cover
It's simple and well illustrated, but the choice of color is a bit of cliche given that the protagonist is a feminist.
Characters
It is evident that Mia's character has been crafted with utmost care to ensure that she is hardened due to her past yet has a soft humane side. Damien's character however seemed to be a hit hazy and inconsistent. He started out being a proper cop and ended up becoming an almost puppet which didn't help the plot line as such. The killer's character was perfectly justified with proper motives, but all of it felt superficial. The negative character in Mia's past seemed more convincing than that of in the present. Other supporting characters were also crafted with perfection such that they fit into the story in a very ideal manner.
What Worked!
The book started off really well. The writer carried out alternate point of view narration in a perfect manner alternating between that of Mia's and the killers. The suspense element was kept alive till about mid way of the book. There we no logical loopholes or inconsistencies in the plot. The editing was air tight till about three fourth of the book. The story started out to be a thriller lover's delight totally.
What could have been better
The climax could have been twisted a bit. It was way too straightforward and predictable. I felt the editing and plot as such slacked a lot after such a good beginning. May be the first half of the book raised the bar and set my expectations high that the climax paled out in comparison. Damien's relationship with Mia though seemed realistic, it kind of ended up altering Damien's character as such. He didn't seem like a tough cop at all. That part of the story could have done with more tough emotions!
Recommendation - For thriller lovers. Brownie points for originality of plot and clean writing!
February 10, 2017
TITLE - it is based on the killers initials and really goes along by the story.
COVER - it is really colourful, catchy along with the title.
Themes covered - sadist, revenge, personal history, and psychological thriller.
Will I read the next book by the author? Yes.
Narration - it is an easy flowing book, with beautiful vocabulary easy to read, keeping the readers hooked to the book.
About the book - this is a story about mia santos who has a deep hurting past, which comes back alive with much more personal turmoil. mia is a feminist and a journalist who goes against all men who hurt
Killing all the people who are close to her heart. keeping AB as the initials on their body
Further aggravating her pain. Will the case solve? Or just keep turmoiling her life? read the book to know more. The characters are less and have their definite roles, hence not confusing you at all. The dialogues and story is mulitiplotted giving you goosebumps. The ending could have been a bit better, but is definitely a great book for crime fiction.
Page Turner - yes.
Recommended- yes.
Overall -4/5.
COVER - it is really colourful, catchy along with the title.
Themes covered - sadist, revenge, personal history, and psychological thriller.
Will I read the next book by the author? Yes.
Narration - it is an easy flowing book, with beautiful vocabulary easy to read, keeping the readers hooked to the book.
About the book - this is a story about mia santos who has a deep hurting past, which comes back alive with much more personal turmoil. mia is a feminist and a journalist who goes against all men who hurt
Killing all the people who are close to her heart. keeping AB as the initials on their body
Further aggravating her pain. Will the case solve? Or just keep turmoiling her life? read the book to know more. The characters are less and have their definite roles, hence not confusing you at all. The dialogues and story is mulitiplotted giving you goosebumps. The ending could have been a bit better, but is definitely a great book for crime fiction.
Page Turner - yes.
Recommended- yes.
Overall -4/5.
February 1, 2017
The pink cover draws your attention. Then you see the chilling silhouette of a killer with a knife standing over a girl lying in a pool of blood. Aha! Thriller. You turn to the first page of The Alphabet Killer and see that it features a roadside Romeo harassing a teenage girl. A predictable opening scene, did you think? The hero will enter bang on time to rescue the damsel in distress. Well, not exactly. The protagonist is Mia Santos, feminist author and editor-in-chief of The Feminista, who beats up the thug and three of his friends to save the girl.
Expect the unexpected. That could well be the theme of this book, written by the feisty Prachi Percy Sharma.
The reporters are doing their jobs, especially the television reporters. They badger Mia to find out her views, not on her rescue mission or about sexual harassment. They ask her instead about her cheating ex ― Dev Nagaraj, debonair publisher of her magazine, who is caught cheating with another woman! That’s the reality we see; TRPs matter more than a woman’s safety. Read further here: http://www.ushanarayanan.com/the-alph...
Expect the unexpected. That could well be the theme of this book, written by the feisty Prachi Percy Sharma.
The reporters are doing their jobs, especially the television reporters. They badger Mia to find out her views, not on her rescue mission or about sexual harassment. They ask her instead about her cheating ex ― Dev Nagaraj, debonair publisher of her magazine, who is caught cheating with another woman! That’s the reality we see; TRPs matter more than a woman’s safety. Read further here: http://www.ushanarayanan.com/the-alph...
February 4, 2017
A smooth and well-written story with absolutely eye-catching cover.
A book on sexual abuse but this one gives a new perspective since the girl here is a strong headed fighter. I liked the way protagonist moves on in her life not letting anyone pull her down and disturb her morale. Even a killer targeting her fails to bring her down. Role of each and every character is portrayed very well. You will meet a sincere police officer, a gossiping police officer, a trustworthy friend, the badgering media etc.
A book on sexual abuse but this one gives a new perspective since the girl here is a strong headed fighter. I liked the way protagonist moves on in her life not letting anyone pull her down and disturb her morale. Even a killer targeting her fails to bring her down. Role of each and every character is portrayed very well. You will meet a sincere police officer, a gossiping police officer, a trustworthy friend, the badgering media etc.
March 25, 2017
Me, being a decent reader and a novice writer, writing this review of the book in a very brief and simple manner. Hope it helps!
Pros :
The language usage, the flow, the punctuation and the grammar everything is penned in a profound manner.
All characters have their own strong personalities and yet they are very different from each other.
The chemistry between Ms.Mia and the Insp.Damien is portrayed very smoothly & genuinely which makes it sound very real.
Overall the book cover, the introduction, and the last page summary are displayed well enough to attract any reader to have a grab on it.
Con’s:
Honestly, after knowing Prachi Sharma's vast knowledge of the crime, I had expected a lot more of suspense and thriller from her book. It could have been little lengthier with loads of twists & turns and meatier.
It does keep the reader on toes but the conclusion and assumptions were not very difficult to guess for a normal reader.
I could identify only two spelling mistakes which I have no idea if she had kept in order to give a style or something like for e.g. the word “kerchief” instead of “handkerchief” because if it’s a real spelling mistake then the word was repeated many times in the book and the error can be identified easily. And the last was the word “Brake” instead of “break”.
@Prachi Sharma, it’s an excellent start to a very bright future. Wishing you loads of best wishes for your future endeavors!!
Pros :
The language usage, the flow, the punctuation and the grammar everything is penned in a profound manner.
All characters have their own strong personalities and yet they are very different from each other.
The chemistry between Ms.Mia and the Insp.Damien is portrayed very smoothly & genuinely which makes it sound very real.
Overall the book cover, the introduction, and the last page summary are displayed well enough to attract any reader to have a grab on it.
Con’s:
Honestly, after knowing Prachi Sharma's vast knowledge of the crime, I had expected a lot more of suspense and thriller from her book. It could have been little lengthier with loads of twists & turns and meatier.
It does keep the reader on toes but the conclusion and assumptions were not very difficult to guess for a normal reader.
I could identify only two spelling mistakes which I have no idea if she had kept in order to give a style or something like for e.g. the word “kerchief” instead of “handkerchief” because if it’s a real spelling mistake then the word was repeated many times in the book and the error can be identified easily. And the last was the word “Brake” instead of “break”.
@Prachi Sharma, it’s an excellent start to a very bright future. Wishing you loads of best wishes for your future endeavors!!
April 8, 2017
The first thing that strikes a reader about ‘The Alphabet Killer’ is the book cover. The simple yet powerful design aptly reflects (without grossing us out) the content of the book, that of a merciless serial killer violating his victims in the most horrifying way possible. The choice of colours could have been better though, since pink (chosen to represent feminism I think) doesn’t really go well with the splash of red blood.
The opening scene of a kick-ass protagonist, Mia’s physical fight with a few molesters, reported on news and being watched on television by a mysterious psycho, sets the mood of the story from the very beginning. With Mumbai’s increasing crime rate against women as the backdrop, ‘The Alphabet Killer’ tracks the eventful life of a headstrong feminist, Mia Santos who moved across states to leave her secrets behind but finds herself staring at her past that has come back to haunt her in Mumbai after fifteen years.
Life is going well for Mia at ‘The Feminista’- Women’s magazine, when she gets a mysterious threat. As the people she loves begin to be brutally raped and murdered, she’s forced to confront the secret she thought was dead and buried. The Alphabet Killer seems to be hell bent on ruining Mia’s life, enacting revenge for a tragedy that happened many years ago. Inspector Damien comes into the picture as he leads the investigation and finds himself falling for Mia. As the chapters flip between the viewpoints of Mia, Inspector Damien and the Alphabet Killer, ready your nerves for a thrill with obligatory yet exciting twists and turns of a murder mystery that will keep you thoroughly enthralled.
The writing is very good, and the author doesn’t go into detail about unnecessary things, no lengthy descriptions of settings or characters indulging in trivial stuff. The story flows along rapidly with secrets being revealed in every other chapter and murders being executed one after another. The flip side of this was the lack of an emotional connection especially with the love angle of Mia and Damien. I felt unmoved by the turmoil of their relationship and was more engrossed in solving the mystery of the Alphabet Killer. The chapter headings in a murder mystery like ‘The Alphabet Killer’ acted as a spoiler. I didn’t want to know that in Chapter 22 ‘The Killer Leaves a Clue’ or that Chapter 33 was a ‘Twist in the Tale’. And I would say the last section diluted what was already a satisfying mystery.
All in all, the author has plotted this murder mystery with precision. Along with a compelling story, she has touched on very important points of human trafficking, rape and violence against women, media apathy, political hindrance in justice in India. More importantly, the author created a character that is one of the most unapologetic feminist to ever step out of the pages of a book. Mia Santos is scarred and betrayed, but bristles with attitude. She stands up to the toughest guys without thinking twice and doesn’t have the patience or sympathy for the men around her, yet she falls in love with Inspector Damien and sheds a tear or two when overwhelmed. She is an engaging character, written to rise above all of the horrible things that happened to her in the past and it is easy to relate to her and feel invested in what would happen to her.
To conclude, I would recommend The Alphabet Killer to all mystery lovers as a gripping, tightly plotted and a satisfying read.
The opening scene of a kick-ass protagonist, Mia’s physical fight with a few molesters, reported on news and being watched on television by a mysterious psycho, sets the mood of the story from the very beginning. With Mumbai’s increasing crime rate against women as the backdrop, ‘The Alphabet Killer’ tracks the eventful life of a headstrong feminist, Mia Santos who moved across states to leave her secrets behind but finds herself staring at her past that has come back to haunt her in Mumbai after fifteen years.
Life is going well for Mia at ‘The Feminista’- Women’s magazine, when she gets a mysterious threat. As the people she loves begin to be brutally raped and murdered, she’s forced to confront the secret she thought was dead and buried. The Alphabet Killer seems to be hell bent on ruining Mia’s life, enacting revenge for a tragedy that happened many years ago. Inspector Damien comes into the picture as he leads the investigation and finds himself falling for Mia. As the chapters flip between the viewpoints of Mia, Inspector Damien and the Alphabet Killer, ready your nerves for a thrill with obligatory yet exciting twists and turns of a murder mystery that will keep you thoroughly enthralled.
The writing is very good, and the author doesn’t go into detail about unnecessary things, no lengthy descriptions of settings or characters indulging in trivial stuff. The story flows along rapidly with secrets being revealed in every other chapter and murders being executed one after another. The flip side of this was the lack of an emotional connection especially with the love angle of Mia and Damien. I felt unmoved by the turmoil of their relationship and was more engrossed in solving the mystery of the Alphabet Killer. The chapter headings in a murder mystery like ‘The Alphabet Killer’ acted as a spoiler. I didn’t want to know that in Chapter 22 ‘The Killer Leaves a Clue’ or that Chapter 33 was a ‘Twist in the Tale’. And I would say the last section diluted what was already a satisfying mystery.
All in all, the author has plotted this murder mystery with precision. Along with a compelling story, she has touched on very important points of human trafficking, rape and violence against women, media apathy, political hindrance in justice in India. More importantly, the author created a character that is one of the most unapologetic feminist to ever step out of the pages of a book. Mia Santos is scarred and betrayed, but bristles with attitude. She stands up to the toughest guys without thinking twice and doesn’t have the patience or sympathy for the men around her, yet she falls in love with Inspector Damien and sheds a tear or two when overwhelmed. She is an engaging character, written to rise above all of the horrible things that happened to her in the past and it is easy to relate to her and feel invested in what would happen to her.
To conclude, I would recommend The Alphabet Killer to all mystery lovers as a gripping, tightly plotted and a satisfying read.
October 17, 2017
The Alphabet Killer begins with an intriguing plot. It is a short and quick read with few characters that move the story forward. While the author builds a compelling psychological thriller, at certain places it does call for sharper writing - some scenes and dialogues seem forced, rather than flowing with the natural current. As a debut author, though, the genre she has written in does display her potential.
November 8, 2017
Excellent Read!! Nerve gripping....
Me being an Activist identified with the character Mia Santos, who herself is a feminist.
Every chapter creates curiosity in readers and I must say that's the skill PRACHI SHARMA is blessed with. This novel took me to my good old days of thrill, suspense of Nancy Drew & Hardy Boys. Well written, well edited....Each frame is well explained.
A MUST READ
Me being an Activist identified with the character Mia Santos, who herself is a feminist.
Every chapter creates curiosity in readers and I must say that's the skill PRACHI SHARMA is blessed with. This novel took me to my good old days of thrill, suspense of Nancy Drew & Hardy Boys. Well written, well edited....Each frame is well explained.
A MUST READ
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